SHREVEPORT —The John Curtis Patriots broke open a one-point game in the second half and defeated West Monroe 27-13 on Friday in the 2016 Battle on the Border in Shreveport.

A festive crowd at Independence Stadium saw West Monroe take a 10-7 lead early. John Curtis (No. 16 USA TODAY/No. 6 Class 5A LSWA) scored a flurry of second-half points to distance themselves after the No. 2 Rebels (1-1) had pulled within 14-13 to pull away.

GOOD PLAY – West Monroe senior defensive back Sawyer Passman made a nice interception off a tipped ball with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive set up the first points of the game – a 27-yard field goal by Rebel kicker Carson Jones. West Monroe would later add a touchdown when senior quarterback Robert Scott Foust tossed a scoring pass to senior wide receiver Taylor Young. West Monroe led 10-7 at halftime.

BAD PLAY – The John Curtis offense — not known for its passing attack – found a hole in the Rebel defense for a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Collin Guggenheim to Tyrone Legette with 4:32 left in the second quarter.

“We know Curtis is a great team,’’ West Monroe coach Jerry Arledge said. “The game could have gone either way. A turnover here or there. We will get better. We will learn a lot about ourselves. Football is a game of momentum. A fumble, an interception. You have to be able to overcome them to win big ballgames.”

Guggenheim fired two touchdown passes in the game. West Monroe would promptly answer with a drive lasting less than two minutes. Highlights included a long run by Foust (he ran for 70 yards in the first half) and the touchdown strike to Young.

NO FOOLIN’ – John Curtis runs a veer offense that is known for deception with the football. The Patriots brought the tricks to special teams as well as the team completed a 29-yard pass on a fake punt in the first quarter. Jay Curtis passed to Cade Comeaux for the big gain. In the third quarter, West Monroe executed a short snap on a punt to Jones who ran for the first down and kept a drive alive. Jones later made the 36-yard field goal to cut the Patriots lead to 14-13 with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

UP NEXT: West Monroe stays on the road – traveling to Madison Central in Madison, Mississippi, next Friday at 7 p.m. John Curtis will return home to New Orleans to host Parkview Baptist.

Connect with Cody on Twitter @cfutrellTNS

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The Neville-Evangel game at the Battle on the Border was not complete at press time. Please go to thenewsstar.com to read coverage of Friday’s game.